Stadsflora is a design research project initiated by Flux into future-proof planting plans in the city. The research examines, among other things, the robustness of planting, how to deal with future climate conditions, what a natural approach to planting in the city might look like in terms of compelling design principles, and how greening the city can go hand in hand with affordable management.

Co-funded by the Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie and the municipalities of Gemeente Eindhoven, Gemeente Breda, Gemeente Nijmegen and Gemeente Den Haag, and in collaboration with the advisory board of Wouter Moerland (Bureau Stadsnatuur), Margareth Hop (Actifolia) and Ronald Buiting (Buiting Advies BV).

Climate change is increasingly affecting Dutch railway stations, which are often located in dense urban areas vulnerable to heat, drought, flooding, and extreme rainfall. The design research Climate Adaptive Stations analyzes 25 stations across 22 climate challenges, showing that each location faces unique conditions. Based on this, tailored climate profiles and transition paths have been developed, offering concrete strategies and measures for adaptation. Together with a catalogue of interventions, this provides a practical tool for creating climate-resilient stations and their surroundings. The project calls on stakeholders to collaborate in shaping sustainable, livable station areas and future-proof urban environments.

Commissioned by Bureau Spoorbouwmeester, NS and ProRail

Holtland is a design research project initiated by Flux, that explores new forms of forests in the Netherlands. Flux observes that existing research often remains abstract and focuses mainly on surface-level aspects. This project instead emphasizes the value of planting forests with diverse types, strong connections to current national challenges, and clear spatial strategies. The research consists of three parts: a forest book presenting future forest types, a series of case studies, and an alternative vision for forests in the Netherlands.

Co-funded by the Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie and The Province of Utrecht, WWF, Synchroon and Staatsbosbeheer and in collaboration with the advisory board of Berno Strootman (National Advisor Landscape), Kees Hendriks (Alterra Wageningen), Martijn Boosten (Probos)

We are facing a tough housing challenge in the Netherlands. If this cannot be absorbed within the urban areas, we have to look further afield and use the peripheral areas as well. At the initiative of Flux, this design research project was started and later carried out together with Synchroon.

The project Gangen proposes to create 15 new landscape parks on the edges of several Dutch cities, where clutter and fragmentation is a risk. The landscape parks can play a crucial role in major landscape tasks such as water storage, food production and increasing biodiversity. At the same time, they can create new recreational routes between city and countryside and offer opportunities for medium-density housing on the edges of the city. The concept thus answers both landscape challenges and the demand for new housing in the Netherlands. It transcends the scale of landowners or municipalities and thus calls for new regional coalitions.

Co-funded by Synchroon and in collaboration with &bogdan, Stadkwadraat and the advisory board of Sylvia Karres, Paul Roncken and Co Verdaas